Which of the following is a correctly balanced equation?
Balancing chemical equations is a fundamental skill in chemistry that ensures the conservation of mass and the accuracy of chemical reactions. A correctly balanced equation reflects the stoichiometry of the reaction, where the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number of atoms of that element on the product side. In this article, we will examine several examples to determine which of the following equations is correctly balanced.
Example 1: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
This equation represents the combustion of hydrogen gas with oxygen gas to produce water. To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides. The left side has 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms, while the right side has 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. Therefore, this equation is correctly balanced.
Example 2: Fe + H2SO4 → FeSO4 + H2
This equation represents the reaction between iron and sulfuric acid to produce iron sulfate and hydrogen gas. To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of iron, sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides. The left side has 1 iron atom, 1 sulfur atom, 2 hydrogen atoms, and 4 oxygen atoms, while the right side has 1 iron atom, 1 sulfur atom, 2 hydrogen atoms, and 4 oxygen atoms. Therefore, this equation is also correctly balanced.
Example 3: N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
This equation represents the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms is the same on both sides. The left side has 2 nitrogen atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms, while the right side has 2 nitrogen atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms. Therefore, this equation is correctly balanced.
Example 4: CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
This equation represents the decomposition of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of calcium, carbon, and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides. The left side has 1 calcium atom, 1 carbon atom, and 3 oxygen atoms, while the right side has 1 calcium atom, 1 carbon atom, and 3 oxygen atoms. Therefore, this equation is correctly balanced.
In conclusion, all four examples provided in this article are correctly balanced equations. It is essential to practice balancing chemical equations to ensure the accuracy of chemical reactions and to develop a strong foundation in chemistry.
